In Clarkstown, GOP won't name a candidate to face Gromack

No Republican candidate for Clarkstown post

Jul. 23, 2013

Written by

Hema Easley

Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack will likely sail into a fifth term, an outcome almost assured by the Republican Party’s failure to field a candidate against him.

Gromack will be running on the Democratic, Independence, Working Families and Conservative lines. He has had a Republican opponent only once — Ralph Sabatini in 2011 — since he first ran for the supervisor’s job in 2004.

“What the other parties do, they make their own decision. I’m running like I always do,” said Gromack. “I’m going to continue working for the people of Clarkstown, whether I have one opponent or two or none.”

Ralph Riverso, a 76-year-old former Wall Street stockbroker who was running against Gromack on the Republican line, dropped out of the race last week citing poor health and other reasons, leaving a small window for a replacement to jump in. Bob Axelrod, the Clarkstown Republican Committee chairman, said Wednesday that interested candidates had until Friday to be vetted.

But when Brian Moran of New City asked to be considered, Axelrod told him it was too late.

“He told me that unfortunately the deadline was … (July 19) and that they couldn’t get the four people involved in putting together the Republican line together by Friday,” said Moran.

Axelrod acknowledged he had the deadline mixed up. But he cited a lack of time and the inability to contact party leaders who could make a decision.

“It’s unfortunate but it happened,” said Axelrod. “People have to understand that we’re not looking not to run candidates.”

Gerry O’Rourke, president of the Congers Civic Association and a political independent, said he didn’t buy Axelrod’s explanation that resulted in the empty Republican line.

“This could be another backroom deal to let (Gromack) run unopposed,” said O’Rourke, who was part of an unsuccessful campaign two years ago to impose term limits on elected town officials. “This is causing a lot of apathy.”

Critics say party chiefs cross-endorse incumbents in return for patronage jobs, leaving residents without anyone to represent their interests. People who control the Independence, Republican and Conservative parties either work for the Town of Clarkstown or have strong links with officials.

But some town residents seemed unconcerned Gromack did not have an opponent.

“I feel the town functions like management rather than a political setup. That’s what you need,” said David Shore of Congers. “I feel politicizing small issues is totally unnecessary.”

Moran may yet challenge Gromack in November. He is hoping to represent a grassroots citizen’s group that is seeking to run an independent line to challenge incumbents from established parties.

If the Clarkstown Preservation Society is successful, Moran may be Gromack’s only challenger. But with the main Republican line empty and Gromack running on the Democratic and minor party lines, Moran’s job will be daunting.